As of December 31, 2000, the Government of Canada extended the total length of leave for new parents to as many as 52 weeks. This doubles the amount of time a new parent can stay on benefits.

Parents need to log 600 hours of insurable earnings to qualify for the maximum of 50 weeks of maternity and/or parental benefits. This would be equivalent to approximately 30 hours of employment over a period of 20 weeks.

It is essential that the employee notify the employer at least four weeks prior to commencement of their maternity or parental leave. In the notice, it is necessary to advise the employer of the intended length of time you are taking leave.

The employee must also provide the employer with a certificate of confirmed pregnancy signed by their attending physician in the case of maternity leave.

The Canada Labor Code provides up to 17 weeks of maternity leave – a two-week waiting period and 15 weeks of paid benefits for new mothers. New mothers may extend their leave by taking an additional 35 weeks of parental leave after the maternity benefits expire. Parents may also share the parental benefits with the mother taking the maternity leave and the father taking the extended 35 weeks of parental leave.

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